Milkie, a 1966 lt chestnut JC registered colt is possibly the first known palomino registered thoroughbred with the Jockey Club and considered a founding father of palomino and buckskin thoroughbreds in the world today.

Due to Milkie's palomino color, the correspondence between Gary McLavey (16 year old owner/breeder) and the registrar of the Jockey Club was considered an extensive investigation. Photographs had to be furnished on the colt every month for over a year.

There were questions about the sire. Could there have been a mistake? This was quickly answered as there wasn't a palomino stud near the mare and the foal was dropped almost exactly on time. There was also a distinctively shaped hoof every “Deer Lodge 1960” foal was marked with; Milkie had that hoof. Milkie was also duly accepted into the American Stud Book.

As for Milkie, racing did not seem to be the best option. Although he was tattooed, he never raced. His trainer Mel Eisen felt he looked more like a valuable show horse. Eisen had stated "The youngster has what horsemen call presence, a way of moving; a way of carrying himself that commands attention. What's more, I think he can jump. Leastwise, Gary tells me he had an awful time keeping the colt inside pasture fences. Even today he wants to jump out of his stall.”

A major factor in the decision to change Milkie's career was the attention television and newspapers had focused on the colt. Letters came in from throughout the country with offers to purchase the colt. Convinced that Milkie could run and be a good racehorse, but more money would result from Milkie's sale that could be used to put young Gary through college.

Milkie was entered in the 1969 Pomona Annual California Thoroughbred Breeder's Association Fall Sale as Hip No. 361. The bidding was lively in the early rounds, with Joe Schneider making the successful bid. Milkie drew his buyer all the way from Ocala, Florida.

Joe Schneider, was for many years, one of the country's leading breeders of palomino show hunters and jumpers. Milkie’s purpose was primarily as a prospective hunter sire. Milkie was schooled over fences and showed exceptional jumping ability. The Schneider's tell of Milkie's antics in his paddock, where they could observe him from their living room window.

Schneider’s preserved Milkie’s exceptional athletic ability and beauty by passing these traits to his progeny. Milkie, known for his prepotencies of passing on extremely good movement, conformation and desirable palomino color. The “Milkie horses” are easy to spot, displaying high-action movement: not your typical “thoroughbred bodies”.

One of the last Schneider bred foals was Gold Apollo 1973, by Milkie, out of Wild Joan (out of a daughter of Omagirto). Mrs. Patrick, who had bred horses of the palomino color for over 30 years in CA, brought the Omagirto stallion to the Schneider's farm; a fine looking animal of a beautiful palomino color. Gold Apollo, a hunter sire, continues to carry on the Schneider breeding program undefeated on the line, sire of several winners on the line.

One of Gold Apollo sons is Issue of Gold 1994 out of Issue's Call, from the *Princequillo and Native Dancer lines. Issue of Gold is the sire of two cremello colts and one known palomino stud, Dreaming in gold 2001 out of Lizzy 1989 by Hatchet Man.

Dreaming in Gold 2001, Rope the Moon’s Premiere JC registered Stallion. Purchased as a yearling, RTM had the desire to bred Anglo-Arabian Sport Horses of Palomino Color. Titus as he is referred to at the farm is a ‘High-Action Mover’. His natural movement is amazing.

His future endeavors will include Endurance riding. He is just beginning his training as a trail horse with many miles to go. In 2005 he will begin competing as a four year-old doing 25-mile LDs. Look out AERC!

Titus displays perfect disposition as a breeding stallion. A faultless choice for the Anglo-Arab cross, beautiful topline and great over-all conformation. As a “pre” two-year old he successfully bred two mares (Arabian & Anglo-Arab) for is first foal crop in 2004; and an early foal crop is on the way for 2005. He has good bone, nice feet and a very kind eye. His mane is pure white; coat is like light brown sugar. His progeny will excel in several disciplines as dressage, hunter-jumper, cross-country and eventing are in his blood.

Another Milkie son, out of Desirable Lady, from the *Princequillo progeny, Milkie’s Desire 1986 has sired many "A" show hunter champions. Milkie’s Desire was line-bred to Distingold 1994 (by Gold Apollo x Distintiva) for another first of a kind for the Jockey Club. Bred by Terry Brown, a beautiful cream-colored Thoroughbred colt born in GA. That Milkie progeny is Guaranteed Gold 1998, a blue-eyed cream colt of the highest caliber and the first cremello colt born in the USA.

The Cremello TB stallion matured to 16.1hh, his excellent work ethic, correct gaits and superb jumping style led him to a great career. Winning and placing at almost every show he attended. Event training with Anita Nemtin-Gilmour (Olympic Competitor), he has finished the season off finishing 5th in the Ontario Training Level Championships; with some of the best dressage scores in his group, and never having jumping faults in the cross-country course.

Competing in the Training Level demands versatility, to excel in dressage, and combine the jumping and the cross-country; a thoroughbred stallion competing all three is a true athlete. Guaranteed Gold is a true gentleman displaying wonderful temperament at home, while training and on the show grounds.

Rope the Moons first foal was Nefretiri Ruby 1993 a line-bred polish mare (13.4% Ofir). In 2000 Nefretiri Ruby, our foundation mare, was bred to the line-bred (Milkie 37.5%) stallion Guaranteed Gold in his first crop year. RTM Azgudazz Gold was born May 25, 2001; the first Anglo-Arab Palomino Sport Horse of the farm.

Trixie as we call her, should mature about 15.3 hh. She is much like Milkie in appearance and movements; loves to rear and jump in the fields. Trixie (18.75% Milkie 7.% Ofir) is retained with future plans on being a foundation mare; completing a Line breeding program (TB/Milkie & Arabian Polish/Ofir) to RTM's premier TB “Milkie great grandson” stallion, Titus (12.5% Milkie-blood).

Lizzy

Titus as a yearling

Guaranteed Gold

Azgudazz Gold one-day old

My information comes from the following articles: December, 1969 issue of the Thoroughbred of California,